Last week in Lagos, Nigeria, Bolt in partnership with SGX Mobility announced the launch and deployment of 25 electric-powered tricycles on its platform. SGX Mobility is a sustainability and green technology company operating from Lagos. The coming together of Nigeria’s market-leading ride-hailing company and another mobility service provider focused on sustainability and green energy is timely and welcomed amidst the rising cost of petrol since the removal of petrol subsidy in 2023.
While Bolt runs its operations on an app with partners handling car inspections and verifications, SGX Mobility on the other hand runs physical battery swap points where tricycle riders pick up and drop off depleted batteries. It could be then said that Bolt brings the software while SGX Mobility supplies the hardware as the case may be. A win-win symbiotic relationship.
Having removed petrol subsidy, Nigeria’s federal government through its Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (PCNG-i) in October 2024, announced the distribution of 2000 units of CNG-Powered tricycles as part of intervention towards reducing the cost of transportation. While Bolt’s 25 initial tricycles may seem a drop when compared with the Federal Government’s 2000 units, it signals to the reality to diversify energy sources and depend less on a source.
- Buying the tricycle in full payment will set the buyer back by N3.2 million.
- Riders can also spread out the payment after making a down payment of N208,000 which is about 7% of the entire cost.
- Bolt tricycle services are accessible in the following cities; Uyo, Jos, Warri, Ilorin, Enugu and Makurdi. Most times with each state’s designated colours.
- 15% commission will be taken off tricycle rides unlike the standard 25% on vehicles.
